MAPUA showed resolve in achieving its goal of a podium finish after it walloped a jittery San Sebastian, 25-20, 25-23, 25-18, yesterday in NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball at the San Andres Gym in Manila.
Talented sophomore Roxie dela Cruz unloaded a match-high 18 points she laced with 16 attacks while Raissa Janel Ricablanca and Freigh Anne Garcia, rookie sensations out of University of the East, debuted with a bang by scattering 13 and 11 points, respectively.
The Lady Cardinals thus seized an early share of the lead with opening day winners University of Perpetual Help’s Lady Altas and College of St. Benilde’s Lady Blazers—the three-peat-seeking champions.
But more than the power-hitting Dela Cruz’s statistical impact, it was her mentoring of Ricablanca and Garcia that Mapua coach Clarence Esteban loved the most.
“Hindi na sophomore dating niya sa team dahil malakin part nung nangyari samin last year,” said Esteban of Dela Cruz, who was pivotal in the team’s Final Four finish a year ago.
“Siya nag gaguide sa mga bata, yun ang pinaka grateful ako,” she added.
With an almost intact roster and the arrival of their super rookies, the Lady Cardinals appeared headed to finally bringing home a trophy after falling short a season back.
“Target talaga mag champion, pero podium finish okay na din kami, at least umangat ng umaangat performance,” said Esteban.
The Roger Gorayeb-mentored Lady Stags, for their part, just didn’t have the net and floor defense and couldn’t sustain their attacking game to challenge the Lady Cardinals on this one.
Games Wednesday
(San Andres Gym)
7:30 a.m.- EAC vs JRU (men)
10 a.m.- EAC vs JRU (women)
2 p.m.- Letran vs AU (women)
5 p.m.- Letran vs AU (men)